Makeup Monday

So, it's Monday. In my life, Monday is akin to Hell Day. I only call it Hell Day because it means that I have class on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Seems like a life sentence, even though it usually flies.

Because I am always so dragged-down on Monday I figured that today I would talk about something that I actually enjoy: makeup!

I have recently been going through a mascara crisis. You see, after a few of my standby tubes ran out I was feeling really ambivilent towards all of them. They were all okay, but I had no reason that I needed to purchase them for any reason. Just... blah.

I didn't want to fork out $15 for Clinique High Impact Mascara because it seems like my tubes dry up far too fast. I saw great reviews for L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara but I found that it kept flaking in my eyes. Since I had already done the Maybelline Great Lash route and I was just feeling uninspired.

Enter Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara. Swoon. This stuff rocks. It's smooth, doesn't clump, and makes all my teeny-tiny blonde lashes POP!

AND, BONUS! It was buy one, get one free at Walgreens a couple of weeks ago. Fabulous, no?

Just to prove I'm not lying to you (because why would I?), a before and after shot.

Before:

After: Now go forth and purchase and let your lashes pop. Amen.

Happy Monday!

Friday Favorite: An Ode to the Girls

I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, and I'll say it a thousand more: I'm kinda a boob expert. Or, rather, a bra expert.

I can spot a lumpy, misshapen bra at 50 paces. You, sitting at your computer in a sports bra you outgrew in high school? Yeah, I see you too.

I never intended to be the bra expert. I never even had boobs until my sophomore year of high school, and even then they weren't anything to write home about.

So that brings me to the topic of today's post: the bra.

You might need a new bra if:

• your cup size is too small, giving you the impression of a 4-boob or the dreaded 6-boob. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you probably don't want to know.
  
• your cup size is too big, giving you collapsing boobs
  
• your band rides up in back, leading to the girls falling out the front
  
• you have back fat issues, which is usually caused by a band that is too loose, NOT too big
  
• if you buy bras that fit when using the the smallest hook

So what do you do if you find yourself in one of the situations above? Well, listen closely.

First, do not assume that your local Victoria's Secret has all the answers. Now, I love me some Victoria's Secret, I truly do - BUT they are not ALWAYS God's gift to the boob. Case in point: for years, my bra rode up in back, sagged in the front, and the straps inevitably fell down. I would head into VS for a bra fitting and they'd, without fail, push me into a 34B and try and send me on my way. I'd show them how it didn't fit, and they'd promise that it would 'grow to fit me.' Ahem. Grow to fit? I'm sorry, did my bra up and become a human baby that grows and needs changed? Um, no. Finally, one day I decided to STOP paying $45-55 bucks a pop for bras that didn't work. I found myself sitting in Nordstrom during one of their Semi-Annual sales. I wandered over and stammered to a sweet old lady bra-fitter about my problems and she told me not to worry and to wait in a fitting room. She showed up with some 34Cs and had me try them on (in front of her. naked. umm... can you say uncomfortable? but she was really old so in all honesty it wasn't that bad... just... i wanted to die at the time). So after about 15 minutes, I walked out of Nordstrom with some lovely DKNY and Calvin Klein bras in size 32D. D, people. As in, how in the hell did those VS girls think a B was going to fit? That's what I'm sayin.... Ok, now back to my rules.

Second, try on every bra. Try on different styles (full-coverage, t-shirt, demi cup, racerback) AND different sizes. When I went from 34C to 32D, hallelujah, it FIT! If at first you don't succeed, try try again.

Lastly, don't get caught up in the numbers and the letters. I know too many good women who walk around with lumpy, dumpy, misshapen boobs because they are too hung up on their numbers. Being a 32F does not make you dumb, and being a 34A does not make you unsexy. NOBODY (well, except for maybe me) can tell your size just by looking at you, so don't sweat it. Wear what looks (and feels) best. And know that bras don't have universal sizing, so you could have a host of different sizes in your wardrobe (I've got 34Cs, 32Ds, and 32DDs).

Ok, and now I have to tell you about my most amazing bra find. Recently, it seemed like all my elastic was shot and I was just ready for a new bra or two. So I went to Macy's which was famous in my mind for NEVER carrying size 32 bras. But lo and behold, I found this beauty.
Calvin Klein's Seductive Comfort Customized Lift Bra.

It's beautiful. Bralelujah! Now, go forth and evaluate your girls. E-mail me if you have questions. You can thank me later. Amen...

Happy Friday!! I may be pretty silent until next Saturday, when I have a HUGE project due.

Friday Favorite: Chick-fil-A

I have a confession to make: until May, I had never been to a Chick-fil-A. Never, not once. I always drove right on by.

So, needless to say, my life has changed since then. I am now obsessed and possessed with the deliciousness that is this heaven on earth.

As I ran back and forth to the airport this week I was able to indulge in my craving (there isn't a Chick-fil-A in my town, but there is one up where I go to school).
So it's been a good and happy week, as you can tell by this bad picture.
Umm, lay off the waffle fries Sarah. You look like a tank.

So I'll leave you with this photo, and if you live near this heaven-on-earth, feel free to eat a waffle fry for me. Yum.
Happy Friday!
I will try to be really good about posting next week while we're on vacation. I'll try reallly realllly hard, ok? But please don't be mad at me if I don't!!

love,

Friday Favorite: My Favorite Face Scrub

I mentioned in a previous post that I have been a huge fan of Clinique skin care products (and makeup, too!) for a while. While I eventually found a face wash I liked better, I have one Clinique product that just can't be replaced.

Seven Day Scrub Cream is a creamy exfoliator that that really helps get rid of dead and dry skin.

The product is a little expensive ($17.50 for 3.4 ounces), but it is truly the only thing that works on my sensitive skin. It doesn't irritate me at all, which makes it worth its weight in gold.

That, my friends, is a true Friday favorite.


love,

Friday Favorite: Red Vines = Crazy Delicious

This morning, I awoke and walked down into the kitchen. Do you see IT? Horror of horrors!!
You mean you don't see it? Here, I'll zoom in a bit...
What, you still can't see it? Here it is: an open package of Red Vines, the most delicious licorice known to man.
The unwritten written rule in my house is this: don't open it, or Sarah WILL eat it. Not just if or when she's hungry - she just WILL eat it. She's a bottomless pit.

And then it will be gone. And you won't have anymore. I've been composing this entry for about 5 minutes, and there are 4 missing Red Vines... STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!!

Long story short: don't leave open candy in the same HOUSE as Sarah, or she will eat it. Especially if she's dieting and trying to eat right.

I would like to apologise to the owner of the package of Red Vines. I'm sorry!!

love,

Friday Favorites

I love a good scrub.

I am afflicted with keratosis pilaris, which is sometimes described as "chicken skin" on the upper arms. Basically, bumpy upper arm skin. Ick. Ok, enough with the TMI.

There is one thing that really helps me to keep the chicken skin under control. This stuff is am amazing body scrub. It foams up a bit and stays scrubby even when it gets wet.

I love that it is sold in a tube instead of a tub - I hate all of my scrubs in tubs because they end up FULL OF WATER, which isn't a great exfoliator.

So if you're in need of a good scrub that's easy to use, this is it. Love this stuff... in fact, a friend took it out of my shower and put it on the sink - I was not pleased for the 2 days that I couldn't find it. Lesson: don't leave your sink so messy you can't find the scrub that's out of place.

Edited to add: the brand is C.O. Bigelow.
love,

Friday Favorite: The Perfect Pink Polish

It's summertime and the weather's fine. That means it's sandal season!!

So, in the spirit of summertime, I have to talk about my favorite pink nail polish. I got this polish about 3 year ago, and have gone through at least 2 bottles so far. The consistency of this OPI polish is perfect, and the color looks great on me - whether I'm at my palest or most tan.

Since Target started carrying OPI polish, I have been able to pick it up at Target and at my favorite hair/nail salon. I highly recommend this polish color - it's fantastic!!

love,

Friday Favorite - My Favorite Moisturizer

I have very sensitive, yet normal skin. I need moisture in the winter, but less moisture in the summer. This skin cream has been my saving grace for at least 3 years.

It is impossible to find in stores, but you can buy it for $6 at drugstore.com. They usually have free shipping with a $25 purchase, so that's awesome.

This stuff takes a bit to get used to. It is much thicker than an average facial lotion, but a large pea-sized amount does the trick - which means the tube will last forever. I think it is meant as a body cream, but I swear it works on the face too. I would give it a couple of weeks to take effect, so your skin can adjust to it, but still - I love this stuff!

If your skin is sensitive, this might be the stuff for you!!


love,

Friday Favorite - My Favorite Face Wash

Well, I'm a day late (and a dollar short, but who's counting?), but I think today is the perfect day to start my "Friday Favorites."

So, I have used every face wash on the planet. I used Proactive (which was way too intense for my mostly clear skin). I used Clinique face washes for a year, which was great, if a bit expensive for face wash. I loved Neutrogena for a while too.

One week, I went on a trip with a friend and completely forgot face wash. PANIC! A trip to Walgreens revealed that they didn't carry the stuff I had been using... so after 20 minutes of searching, I settled on Clean & Clear Sensitive Skin Foaming Face Wash. $3 later, I fell in love. I have been using this face wash for over 3 years faithfully. I can use as much as I want without feeling guilty - because it's so cheap!

So, if you're in the market for a good face wash that removes make-up and prevents zits - this might be it. And for $3, it's definitely worth a try.


love,